Mobile parcels container



July 16, 1935. c. B. FRITSCHE 7 MOBILE PARCELS CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1932 Fill/Ill!!! :1: llfllllllrrlli INVENTOR (IA/2L 5. v/ QITSCHE "W ATTORNEY July 16, 1935. c, Tsc'HE 2,008,176

MOBILE PARCELS CONTAINER Filed Oct. 22, 19 32 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CARL 5. FQITSCHE BY Q m ATTORNEY July1G,1935. 1. 5. FRITSCHE 7 2,008,

v MOBILE PARCELS CQNTAINER Filed Obt. 22, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY 5 July 16 1935.. c. B. fiRlTscHE 0 MOBILE PARCELS CONTAINER Filed Oct. 22, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 7 40 lzqhl 4/ 4 3 46 45 L57 47 1 k w n:

INVENTOR M5 ATII'ORNEV CARL 5. FQ/TSCHE.

INVENTOR Jufly 16, 1935. I c. B. FRITSCHE MOBILE PARCELS CONTAINER Filed Oct. 22, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JM JQN MA RN N 92124 5. FQ/TSCHE. E4 4w:

Patented July 16, 1935 PATENT OFFICE MOBILE PARCELS CONTAINER Carl B. Fritsche, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Beverley C. Fritsche, Detroit, Mich.

Application October 22, 1932, Serial No. 639,138

9 Claims.

'My invention relates to mobile parcels containers, and among the objects are to produce containers which will effect great economy in transportation of parcels or the like, by providing containers of exceedingly light construction, reducing the man power for handling that class of transportation, increasing the speed of handling, and thereby saving space, providing carriers or containers that are mobile and of a relatively small ratio of tare, that is container weight in proportion to the useful load conveyed, to provide for manipulating the container in different positions for economy in handling and in storage. Also to provide such containers collapsed in such manner as to effect great economy in the shipment of empties, to provide a structure that facilitates loading and unloading, and to provide large capacity in bulk for packing of the containers. Likewise, providing containers that may be in a practical way loaded and sealed at the point of origin, and delivered at final destination as a unit item, to avoid great waste in checking of innumerable individual parcels as heretofore.

These economies apply to the use of such containers for mail parcels, for express transportation and any other transportation system involving many small units, with reference to which the great economies can be effected by the use of my invention. 7

In particular, in the preferred form I provide a mobile container having an extremely light, and still strong and durable structure comprising the frame work, with wheels so positioned as to permit easy manipulation, such as one man handling when fully loaded, and with panels stretched between the rigid frame to provide the suitable doors or panels to permit loading and unloading or stacking of parcels therein, and

features of construction whereby the container when unloaded may be to such an extent collapsed as to permit the nesting of a number of containers so compactly as to greatly save space in the shipment of empties. The framework has all features of construction specially arranged for strength and ready collapsing, and for the tight suspension of the bag contained within the frame, accessibility for opening and closing of the panels for the loading apertures, and for the locking of the same. 7

It will be seen that my construction in its various forms is a solution of the problem today involving large sums in the transportation business, when considering the best practice heretofore known with respect toproduction and use containers now inuse weigh fifty per cent more than the average pay load transported therein.

This means practically about five ounces of tare for each pound transported by mine. against twenty-four ounces tare; which is the added expense of transportation in all its forms for every one pound of useful load transported or handled.

My container or carrier. can be tilted and wheeled by one man, and it can be stowed in trucks or railroad cars by two men, which means the elimination of mechanical auxiliaries now used for the old type. my single unit displaces the handling of twelve original parcel post mail bags, thus reducing timein loading and unloading in mail truck or mail car about seventy-five per cent. Thus reducing time increases the platform efficiency of the frontage at railroad or postoflice terminal.

It has been estimated by authorities familiar with the cost of present day and past practice, that my invention will mean the saving of several millions in the handling of transportation charges of mail, and likewise of express, and for less than truck load lots of shipments of freight it represents marked economy in handling' As a further result, my carrier makes possible the unit delivery of container from shelf-to-shelf as distinguished from door-to-door delivery, because of lightness and mobility it permits economic transportation from the loading shelf to the shelf of the consignee, thereby eliminating a number of rehandlings which heretofore have been necessary. The construction also minimizes the danger of theft losses and damage to goods transported.

While the construction involves many essential features and primarily lightness and the use of very light metals to meet the requirements .of my structure, on the whole it provides the solution of a problem involving annually many millions which today is waste in labor or transportation charges, both to the shipperand to the transtainer indicating one embodiment of my invention showing the container in both an expanded and collapsed position.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the construction of the rear roller rests and hand grip.

With reference to mail,

V the arrows showing means for retaining a side of broadly be of any suitable rigid material. walls may be defined as of flexible material broadly fabric, leather, rubber, netting, paper or the canvas bag in the upper portion of the front main'longitudinal member and means for retaining the sliding closing panel in juxtaposition thereto. i

Fig. '1 indicates an assembly of a cable and fit tings used to hold the quick opening bottompanel in a closed position.

Fig. '8 a side view taken on the line 88 of Fig. '1 showingthe cable receiving means.

Fig. 9 is a top view of my invention taken on the line 3 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of my invention taken on the line lil-iii 'of Fig. 5 showing the quick opening bottom panel in aclos'ed position.

Fig. ll is a section taken on the line. I l-ll of Fig. 5 showing the wedge lock mechanism which holds the container frame in an expanded position and permits'the container frame to be 001- lapsed. i V

Fig. 12 is a sectiontaken on theline 12-42 of Fig. 11.

Fig. l3 is 'a section taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 9, showing in detail the spring-bolt locked center hinge of the collapsible side struts.

Fig. 14 is a section taken on the line Ml4 of Fig. 13 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 15 is a side view of a mobile parcels container indicating another embodiment of my invention, showing the container in both an expanded and collapsed position.

In' the form shown my invention comprises a container for parcels, parcels post or otherwise, comprising a frame of rigid material and with walls of collapsible material. The frame 'may The other equivalent material.

Specifically, the frame is preferably of metal for rigidity and strength, particularly, a light "metal for the sake of lightness and still more specifically of the light metal or alloy having a specific gravity below 2.80. The fabric chosen is canvas, but leather, burlap, netting, or wire chain cloth made of rings, like a metal dishrag, would be usable. The frame is collapsible to reduce bulk when not in use so as to economize storage or space required for shipping empties, which in th collapsed form may be nested.

Two bottom castings l5 are held parallel to and in spaced relation to each other by means of transverse pipe struts I6 and Ill. Transverse strut I6 is secured to the castings l5 by means of a pressed fit to male couplings l8 cast integral with the said casting l5. Strut H is securedto 7 283 may be cast into the bottom edge of the casting l5, or otherwise secured thereto.

The

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of stem 25 of the T-shaped wearing strip is perforated at intervals for lightness and to provide a positive bond to the casting l5 when so casted in the same. The back end of the casting 15 is so shaped that it will support an axle 22, having wheels 23 journaled thereon, at such a location that will permit the container to be moved from a vertical to a horizontal position or vice versa with the least possible effort. The said wheels 23 are provided with solid hard rubber tires 24. The castings l5 have holes 25 cored therein to receive the quickly releasable fastening means 94 (see Fig. 10) at the bottom of the canvas container 15, as hereinafter described. Castings i5 have holes 26 bored therein into which the main rear longitudinal frame members 2? are pressed. Castings i5 are also provided with holes to receive the male portion of the, wedge lock mechanism shown in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 that cooperates with the female portion of the said wedge lock mechanism which is pressed into the lower end of the front longitudinal frame members 30, all as hereinafter described in detail. Plates 28 are cast integral with the castings l5 and extend over the wheels 23 to protect the canvas container '55 from wear when the mobile parcels container is wheeled in a semi-horizontal position.

The main rear longitudinal frame members 21 are held parallel to and in spaced relation to each other by transverse pipe struts 28 and 29. The main front longitudinal frame members 30 are held parallel to and in spaced relation to each other by means of transverse pipe strut-3| and 32.

Collapsible'side struts 33 and 34 hold the main rear longitudinal frame members 21 and the main front longitudinal frame members 30 parallel to and in spaced relation to each other.

A three-way sleeve type fitting 35 having a hinged and a male connection fits over each main rear longitudinal frame member 27. The male connection of the said fitting 35 is pressed into one end of the transverse pipe strut 28 and the hinged connection of the said fitting 35 is.

journaled to a mated hinged connection 36 pressed into one end of the collapsible side strut male connection of'the said fitting 35 is pressed into one end of the transverse pipe strut 3| and the hinged connection of the said fitting 30 is journaled to a mated hinged connection 36 pressed into one end of the collapsible side strut 33.

'A cast three-way fitting 3'! having a male, a female and a hinged connection is welded to each end of the transverse pipe strut 29. The male connection of the said fitting 31 is pressed into the top end of therear longitudinal frame member 27, the female connection receives one end of the bent pipe sleeve 38 of the rear roller rests and hand grip, and the hinged connection of the said fitting 3! is journaled to a mated hinged connectiontfi pressed into one end of the collapsible 'side strut '34. i

A cast corner fitting 39 having a male and a hinged connectionforms the top front corners of the mobile parcels container frame. The male connection of the said corner fitting 39 is pressed into the top end of the main front longitudinal frame member 35]. The hinged connection of the said fitting 39 is journaled to a mated hinged 'lapsible side strut 34.

connection 36 pressed into one end of the col- The end of the transverse pipe strut 32 is welded to the main front longitudinal frame member 39 just below the cast corner fitting 39.

The female wedge coupling 40 is pressed into the bottom end of the main front longitudinal frame member 39 and cooperates with a male wedge coupling 4| pressed into front end of the bottom casting i5.

Referring to Fig. 11, the said female wedge coupling 39 has a hole 42 provided therein and the said male wedge coupling 4| has a hole 43 provided therein, the said holes 42 and 43 receive a spring bolt 44 which, in its normal position, cooperates with the female and male wedge couplings 49 and 4| and retains the main longitudinal frame members 39 in an expanded position.

The said spring bolt 44 is maintained in its normal position by means of a spring 45 acting against a piston 45 which is rigidly secured to the spring bolt 45. The spring bolt 44 may be slid from its normal position by means of a finger lever 49 downward to the position indicated by the dotted lines 4?, in which position the wedge couplings 49 and 4| are released so that the main front longitudinal frame members 39 may be collapsed to the position indicated by the dotted lines 38 in Fig. 1.

Attention is called to the fact that the spring bolt s: only holds the main front longitudinal frame member 39 from collapsing and that the large outward stresses clue to the tendency. of the frame to expand from loads carried thereby are resisted by the wedging action of the wedge lock mechanism along the lines 59 of Fig. 12.

Side struts 33 and 34 are provided with a spring bolt locked centre hinge assembly as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 in which a male hinge unit having a male tenon 52 is pressed into one half of the side struts 33 and 34 and a female hinge unit 53 having a male tenon 54 is pressed into i the other half of the side strut 33 and 34, the said male hinge unit 5| and the said female hinge unit 53 are pivotally joined by the hinge bolt 55.

The male hinge unit 5| has a hole 56 provided therein and the female unit 53 has a hole 51 provided therein, the said holes 56 and 51 receive a spring bolt 53 which, in its normal position cooperates with the hinge units 5| and 53 and retains the side struts 33 and 34 in an extended position which hold the main longitudinal frame members 39 in an expanded position. The spring bolt 59 may be slid from its normal position by moving a knob 59 attached thereto along the slot 60 to and around a radial slot 6| provided in the male hinge unit 5| in which position the end of the spring bolt 58 clears the joint 62 between the male and female hinge units 5| and 53 as indicated by the dotted line 93. The spring bolt 59 is shouldered at one end 64 to receive the T spring 55 which forces the said spring bolt 58 into its normal position when the knob 59 of the said spring bolt 58 is moved from the position indicated by the dotted lines 68 of Fig. 14 to a position directly in line with the slot 60 of the male hinge unit 5|. By moving the spring bolt 58 out of cooperation with the male and fe- 3 member 39.

mounted on the transverse shaft i I, each end of which, is pressed into the end of a bent pipe sleeve 38 which is rigidly held by a pressed fit into the female connection of each cast three-way The said rear roller rests 39 areprovided with a bearing 12 and a hard rubber tire'13. The hand grip H3 is constructed of alight fibre or other suitable tubing slipped over the said transverse shaft 1 i. Circular metal flanges 15 are provided each side of the bearings 72.

The canvas container 15 is provided with carner loops 76 securely sewed thereto along the lower end of the front corners and along the entire length of the back corners thereof as shown in- Fig. 3. The rear main longitudinal frame members 21 and the lower end of the front main longitudinal frame members 39 are provided with continuous slots 7|! through which the canvas loops 16 are inserted. A hollow metal pipe 18 is from main longitudinal frame members 33 are formed'with an inwardly extending hollow protrusion 3i as an integral part thereof. The said protrusion 8| has a continuous slot 82 therein through which the looped sides of the sliding panel 19 pass. The protrusion 8| may, if desired, be constructed as a separate member and secured to the main front longitudinal frame The sides of the canvas container 75 adjacent to the sliding panel 19 are provided with canvas loops 83 securely sewed thereto which are inserted into the upper part of thefront main longitudinal frame member 39 through the slots 71 provided therein. The hollow metal pipe 18 is then inserted into the canvas loop 83 which retains the upper part of the sides of the canvas container i5 within the upper part of the main front longitudinal frame members 39;

i The protrusion 8| of the main front longitudinal frame members 39 ends at a short distance above the front transverse pipe strut 3| which permits the canvas sliding panel 19 to be removed therefrom which opens up the top front portion of the container 15 for loading or unloading. Canvas straps 84 sewed to the canvas sliding panel 19 provide means for moving the said sliding panel 19 downward so that it may be entirely removed by pulling the sides of the same out of the slots 82 of the hollow protrusion 8|. The top end of stiffening metal strip 85 by means of which the said sliding panel 19 may be pulled to a closed position as indicated in Fig. 5. A suitable clip 86 secured to the canvas sliding panel 19 and a similar clip 8'1 secured to the top front transverse pipe strut 32 provide means for securing the said canvas sliding panel in a closed position.

The sides, front and back of the canvas container 15 are made sufficiently long to fold in an envelope manner and form the bottom of the said canvas container 15 having one exposed joint 88 therein. Canvas lugs 89 having thimbles sewed therein are securely sewed to the front canvas flap and similar canvas lugs 9| having similar thimbles 92 sewed therein are securely sewed to the rear canvas flap. Lines 92 of Fig. indicate the edges of the sides of the canvas container folded across the bottom. Line 93 indicates the folded across the bottom. The exposed joint 88 is the edge of the back of the canvas container folded across the bottom. The bottom of the canvas container 15 is secured in a closed position by means of the cable assembly 94 shown in detail in Fig. '7 and Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 the cable 94 is provided with a needle end 95 having an eye 96 therein which fits over the lug 91 having a hole 98 therein, the lug 91 being attached to the casting l in a suitable position as indicated in Fig. 10. The cable 94 is also provided with an eye bar end 99 which receives the pull ring I09.

The tag end 95 of the cable assembly 94 is threaded through the hole 25 in one bottom-casting 85, thence through thimbles 96 and 921 and finally through the other bottom casting l5. The cable is then pulled tight and the eye slipped over the lug 97.

Fig. 15 refers to another embodiment of my invention in which the mobile means is located slightly below the centre of the container.

A cast three-way sleeve type fitting llll having a hinged and a male connection fits over each main rear longitudinal frame member 2?. The male connection of the said fitting IUI is pressed into one end of the transverse pipe strut 28 and the hinged connection of the said fitting NH is journaled to a mated hinged connection 36 pressed into one end of the collapsible side strut 33. The said cast three-Way sleeve type fitting 'Hll is provided with a bracket H52 cast integral therewith. The said bracket I92 supports an axle 93 having wheels I 94 journaled thereon. The said wheels l 94 are provided with rubber tires I95. It will be noted that the casting l5 is'not provided with means for supporting the mobile means in the embodiment of my invention shown in'Fig. 15. Structure not specifically described for Fig. 15 is identical with structure shown and described in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1. 7

From the preceding description and the drawings it will be seen that I have produced a mobile parcels container which in normal service has a rigid frame construction adapted to meetall of the requirements of strength, and which also may be collapsed into a much smaller bulk when not in its normal service. In practice, containers constructed provide when collapsed that approximately four collapsed containers can be nested for shipment in the same cubic space as would be occupied byone of my containers when in expanded position for normal use.

Said frame structure when locked in open position is of such strength and form that it-will support the bag or specifically the/weatherproof container member in tension andentirelywithin. the

limits of the rigid frame, so that the frame pro tects the interior bag as well'as supporting it, and

at the same time .the interior bag or container can be of any material that collapses when the frame has been col1apsed,-so as toassure small bulk in V tire bag protecting the contents. With this Iprovide simple and secure means for supporting the bag in-the-frame, assuring lightness of construction, security and durability, with lowcost. All of the variouspartslend themselves to quantity production with great economy,so that my con- .l me m be m t r d at er 19W edge. of the front of the canvas container 15 While the structure of my containers meets all .the physical requirements as heretofore explained, to great advantage, all parts have been so combined as to permit the major portion of the metal or stiff members, to be manufactured of a metal alloy of .low specific gravity whichwill normally be approximately less than 2.80. By formingmy container in the manner described, it has made possible the'use-of very light metal alloy by using container is adapted for miscellaneous use in the handllngof parcels andjpackages of various sizes. It may be loaded in a verticalor horizontal position and thereaiter shifted to a horizontal position, and-wheeled, as desired, with minimum effort of-manpower in view of its structure and wheel arrangement, and on account of its lead carried. When emptying the container may be placed in a horizontalposition, the cable loci: of the bottom panel be readily released by releasing the cable eye from its retaining lug and pulling the cablepull ring-and the load of parcels will flow freely to the floor as the container isbacked away,-wi-th great saving of time in unloading.

In shipping the loaded containers they can he stood on end sothat a full container holds its -maxin'ium load over a relativelysmallarea of -fioor space,thus increasing substantially the amount of useful load carried in mail cars or elsewhere. 'Inactual practice, compared with the ordinary mail'parcels'bags in use today, that the present day practice averages not over one hundred and twenty pounds of useful load transported per lineal foot of car, whereas my container loaded and then stacked in the cars assures anaverage three hundred pounds per lineal foot of car. This meansin addition to convenience andother characteristics, a very'substantial reduction in transportation charges.

As the platforms at postoffices or railroads accommodate-trucksior loading. or unloading, any time saved in loading orunloading of the trucks, which-is a material reduction in time when using my parcelscontainers, means a substantial increase in the efficiency of the platform space. The quickerturn-abriutof trucks, on account of the saving of my container in operation can mean doubling and trebling the efficiency, or, in other words increasing the capacity of a platform frontage three times without actual physical increase in the platform frontage, thereby increasing the ;capacity of terminals in this respect without added expense.

In view of the collapsible character of my container, their return shLpment when unloaded saves in transportation space, and therefore charges-but also when storing the empties they may be collapsed and stacked in nested relation, thereby-saving space at a terminal or shipping point. When collapsed, however, the mobile fea-f ture isin no way interferedwith or minimized, but, on the contrary, when nested one of the containers may be maneuveredwith three or four containers nested therein.

Thecanvas portion or the interior bag of any material being held'in tensional relation to the light frame structure races the frame, and the more the container is loaded the more resistance to racking and distortion to the frame result from the higher tension in the sides of the container bag. The entire combination of tensional bag support and frame work is such that when loaded it readily provides a unit mass carrying the entire load and transmitting all shocks throughout the structure, thus assuring durability, longer life of the structure and reducing the cost of maintenance and repairs to a minimum.

While I have shown and described herein one particular form of my container and in detail the various parts in the combination of the structure, with one modification as to general arrangement for mobility, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from my invention, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A mobile parcels container comprising a light metal frame for rigidity for supporting itself and supporting the load, a flexible container bag suspended from within members of said frame and closed on all sides and ends, and a shiftable weatherproof loading panel in a wall of said bag.

2. A mobile parcels container comprising a light metal frame, means of interconnection between members therewith permitting partial collapsing of the frame, a flexible container bag suspended from within members of said frame and closed on all sides and ends, a shiftable weatherproof loading panel in a wall of said bag, and rolling supports secured rigidly to the frame.

3. A mobile parcels container comprising a collapsible frame, wheels mounted on the said collapsible frame, a wedge lock mechanism for releasably holding the frame in an expanded position, spring bolt hinges for releasably holding side members in an expanded position, means for releasing the said wedge lock mechanism, means for releasing the said spring bolt locked hinges, a canvas container tensionally held within the said collapsible frame and means within the said collapsible frame members for retaining the said canvas container therein.

4. A mobile parcels container comprising a light metal alloy frame, mobile means attached to the said light metal alloy frame, means for collapsing the said light metal alloy frame, releasable means for securing the said light metal alloy frame in an expanded position, a canvas container suspended within the said light metal alloy frame, means within the said light metal alloy frame members for tensionally securing the said canvas container within the said light metal alloy frame, the said canvas container having a sliding panel therein, means for slidably securing the said sliding panel to the light metal alloy frame, an envelope bottom in the said canvas container and quickly releasable means for securing the said envelope bottom in a closed position.

5. A mobile parcels container comprising two bottom castings held in spaced relation to each other, a pipe frame attached to the bottom castings, wheels mounted on the said bottom castings,

a canvas container suspended within the said pipe frame, means within the said pipe frame members for holding the said canvas container in tensional relation thereto, means for collapsing the said pipe frame, means for retaining the said pipe frame in an extended position, a sliding panel in the said canvas container, means for slidably securing the said sliding panel to the said pipe frame, an envelope end in the canvas container and means for releasably securing the said envelope end of the said canvas container in a closed position.

6. A mobile parcels container comprising a collapsible light metal alloy frame, the said light metal alloy having a specific gravity not exceeding 2.80, the said light metal alloy frame having cast base members of the same material, wedge lock mechanism attached to the said cast base members for releasably holding the said light metal alloy frame in an expanded position, spring bolt locked hinges in the side members of the said light metal alloy frame for releasably holding the said light metal alloy frame in an expanded position, means for releasing the said wedge lock mechanism, means for releasing the said spring bolt hinges, a canvas container suspended within the said light metal alloy frame, means within the said light metal alloy frame members for tensionally retaining the said canvas container therein, a sliding panel in the front of the said canvas container, means for slidably securing the said sliding panel to the said light metal alloy frame, an envelope bottom end in the said canvas container, and means for releasably securing the said envelope bottom end of the said canvas container in a closed position.

7. A mobile parcels container comprising a collapsible light metal frame, a flexible container bag held by the said light metal frame in tensional relation to and within the said light metal frame, and a shiftable weatherproof loading panel in a wall of the said flexible container.

8. A mobile parcels container comprising a collapsible light metal frame, a flexible container bag of smaller cross-sectional area than the said light metal frame, corner loops on at least four corners of the said flexible container, continuous slots in the said light metal frame to receive the said corner loops, means for retaining said corner loops within the said metal frame, and a shiftable weatherproof loading panel in a wall of the said flexible container.

9. A mobile parcels container comprising a collapsible light metal frame and a flexible container bag having a shiftable Weatherproof loading panel therein, continuous slots in at least four of the light metal frame members, corner loops on at least four corners of the said flexible container to extend through the slots into the said light metal frame members, and means for retaining the said corner loops in the said frame members.

CARL B. FRITSCHE. 

